D&D 5E Shooting into a melee. Disadvantage or not?

[Charlaquin]

Not just an ally, an enemy can act as a meatshield for their buddy by just standing in your way too.

Yep

 

[cmad1977]

No but I’ll add +2 to the targets AC if it’s chaotic.

 

[Don Durito]

We just say if you roll a 1 you hit your ally. If there are two allies next to the target, then a 1 or a 2 will hit an ally etc.

 

[Salthorae]

I'm with @Oofta - usually, it's enough to apply half-cover to the enemy depending on the situation. That statistically is like "half-disadvantage" anyway.

It is fun to hit your ally though. I do miss that rule from 3.5 days

 

[Oofta]

I used to have a rule in previous editions that if you missed your target by 5 or more, roll again to see if you hit some other creature in line. So if you rolled a 2 you didn't automatically hit your buddy ... you rolled again to see if you hit them. Which could mean a miss, could mean a crit.

I thought it was more fair than auto hit, also more tense.

 

[Salthorae]

Mine in the past been if you miss your opponent, but your roll was high enough to hit your friend... well guess what? You did! Great shot!

 

[Teemu]

I'm with @Oofta - usually, it's enough to apply half-cover to the enemy depending on the situation. That statistically is like "half-disadvantage" anyway.

It is fun to hit your ally though. I do miss that rule from 3.5 days

That rule only applied when the combatants were grappling. If they were just engaged in melee, you took a -4 penalty to the attack roll, removed if you had the Precise Shot feat.

 

[Charlaquin]

I'm with @Oofta - usually, it's enough to apply half-cover to the enemy depending on the situation. That statistically is like "half-disadvantage" anyway.

It is fun to hit your ally though. I do miss that rule from 3.5 days

Hitting cover is an optional rule in the DMG, and one I generally like.

 

[Weiley31]

Rule of Cool states Hell Nah!

 

[ccs]

In my games, yes.

I don't usually care to track wether you hit friend or foe. So the disadvantage is just to see if you can get the shot on a foe.
If you make it, you hit.
If you don't, then you don't shoot & no ammo is spent/spell slot used/whatever applies.